Motors Insider: Monster Trucks spectacle

J.P. Ruggiero was making a name for himself as a stunt driver in movies when he got the invitation to drive a Monster Truck on the Monster Jam tour.

“Up until then, my only competitive background was racing my Jeep CJ-7 in some off-road races,” said Ruggiero.

“But a friend of mine recommended me to the Monster Jam promoters. They knew what they needed in a driver. I guess I fit the criteria.”

Just over a year later, Ruggiero is one of the top attractions on the Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam tour that makes its annual visit to Qualcomm Stadium Saturday night.

Actually, the truck Ruggiero drives is the attraction. When it comes to Monster Trucks, the vehicle is the star. El Diablo is the star. Ruggiero is a significant part of the show.

As for the show, it is a race inside a spectacle.

“The drivers are trying to win,” explained Ruggiero. “We’re all racers. We want to win. But we know the most important thing is the show. We’re there to put on a show without destroying the equipment. If we win, that’s a bonus.”

Honestly, if Ruggiero’s El Diablo wins Saturday night’s Monster Jam there will be no bonus in his paycheck. He will get a trophy. But first place pays the same as last. The focus is on the “spectacle.”

“We all want the fans to enjoy the show,” said Ruggiero. “All of us want to win. But that is secondary to the spectacle of the event.”

Monster Trucks are spectacular, particularly to the target market of 11 to 13-year-old boys, their friends and their parents.

All those horses, however, aren’t geared toward speed. Monster Trucks are designed to fly up to 30 feet in the air in 100-foot leaps. Hence, the spectacle.

Although the suspension and tires soften the blow of crashing back to earth, Ruggiero said the end of each jump parallels the impact of a 35-mph crash on the driver. Each run could number as many as 15 jumps over a variety of obstacles. The top trucks on any given night could make up to 10 runs.

Rather than winning, the first assignment of every Monster Truck driver at each event is to bring his steed back alive. Monster Trucks can’t be repaired on the hoist at the neighborhood garage. And half the season’s 20 races are packed into the first three months of the year.

“Our first goal is to keep our truck on its wheels,” said Ruggiero.

“Among the skills we need is having the mindset of doing what we are there to do and accomplish it. We pride ourselves on being in full control while right at the edge. Roll-overs happen, but no one involved is happy when they do. You can’t be hurting the equipment.”

Monster Truck events aren’t the purest of competitions. The spectacle of the show takes precedent over the checkered flag.